Question

I have a method in my application helper that is meant to deactivate a task in my database.

Application helper:

  def link_to_destroy_task(task_id)
    Task.find(task_id).deactivate
  end

Model:

def self.deactivate()
  update_attribute(:active, false)
end

View:

<ol id="tasks">
  <% @Tasks.each do |task| %>
      <%content_tag_for :li, task do %>
      <span class ="handle"> [drag] </span>
      <%= link_to task.name, :controller => "com_tasks", :action => "edit", :id => task.id %>
      <%= link_to_function '[Delete]', link_to_destroy_task(task.id) %>
    <% end %>
  <% end  %>
</ol>

For some reason when the page loads it is deleting everything from the list. Not just switching active to false. It is completely wiping it from the database.

I am using fixtures, so I reload all the test data, and I can refresh once to see the data again, but the next time I reload it is gone.

I have changed the name of the method to ‘deactivate’ because I think destroy is already taken, but the method is still being run without being clicked. It isn’t deleting anymore, but it is deactivating everything.

Answer 1

This is happening because you’re calling deactivate in your view for each item! The 2nd parameter to your link_to_function is running the actual deactivation.

I think you’re misunderstanding link_to_function – it doesn’t run a ruby function when clicked, it runs a javascript function you’ve created. The 2nd parameter needs to be a string that contains a javascript function. Rails would have no way to run a ruby method in somebody’s browser.

Here’s a link to the documentation, which should get you on the right track:

http://apidock.com/rails/ActionView/Helpers/JavaScriptHelper/link_to_function